Sentiero di spartiacque appenninico
The place
The Sentiero Spartiacque Appenninico follows the main ridge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines from Passo della Cisa to Bocca Trabaria, along the border between Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Marche. Over roughly 400 km in 20–25 stages, it walks along the Alpine-style watershed at 900–1,700 m through beech and chestnut forests, high-altitude meadows and still-authentic Apennine villages. Less busy than the Alps, it offers rare solitude and unspoiled nature.
Why go
Passo della Cisa and its Roman milestones. Beech forests of the Casentinesi Forests National Park. Apennine wildlife: wolves, wild boar, roe deer, golden eagles. Medieval rural stone villages.
A bit of history
Marked by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) as part of the Grande Sentiero Appenninico (GEA), this stretch of the watershed route was catalogued in the 1990s–2000s. For centuries the Apennines formed the backbone of central-northern Italy, crossed by transhumance routes, trade paths and pilgrimages.
Getting there
Passo della Cisa: bus from Pontremoli (TER). Bocca Trabaria: bus from Sansepolcro. Access from the A1 motorway from Florence or Bologna.
Recommended gear
Hiking boots. Layered clothing. Waterproof jacket. A tent is useful for the more remote sections.
Best season
May to October. Snow possible on the passes from November to April. Cool summers at altitude, ideal for escaping the heat of the plains.